List of top-ranked Professional Certificate Program for 2020 and beyond

Start exploring emerging technologies and skill sets

The arrival of new programs has always impaled curiosity and interest in aspiring students and technology leaders but the below mentioned certified programs won’t just spike that but also decide the future of science, technology and information. To learn emerging technologies and skill sets is to change future. The list is prepared by the world’s leading institutions, and recognized industry leaders. Whether you’re looking to start a new career, or change your current one, Professional Certificates help you become job ready.

1)    Data Science – HarvardX

What you will learn

•          Fundamental R programming skills
•          Statistical concepts such as probability, inference, and modeling and how to apply them in practice
•          Gain experience with the tidyverse, including data visualization with ggplot2 and data wrangling with dplyr
•          Become familiar with essential tools for practicing data scientists such as Unix/Linux, git and GitHub, and RStudio
•          Implement machine learning algorithms
•          In-depth knowledge of fundamental data science concepts through motivating real-world case studies

2)    Applied AI – IBM

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming our world. Whether you’re a student, developer, or a technology consultant, understanding AI and knowing how to create AI powered applications can give you an edge in your career. This Professional Certificate is designed to arm you with the skills to work as an AI Application Developer.

It will give you a firm understanding of AI, its applications, and its use cases. You will become familiar with IBM Watson AI services and APIs. Even if you have no programming background, you will be able to create AI driven chatbots as well as pick up practical Python skills to work with AI. The courses will also enable you to apply pre-built AI smarts to your products and solutions. A learner with no prior knowledge of AI will learn to design, build, and deploy AI-powered applications on the web.

Rather than create complex AI algorithms and interfaces from scratch, learners will use IBM Watson AI services and APIs to create smart applications with minimal coding. By the end of this Professional Certificate, learners will complete several projects that showcase proficiency in applying AI and building AI powered solutions.

3)    Six Sigma and Lean – TUMx

In partnership with the TUM School of Management, the TUM Executive Education Center is offering the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification.

This Professional Certificate is endorsed by Infineon Technologies and covers the fundamentals of the Six Sigma methodology and Lean Production for quality and productivity improvement, following the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) process improvement cycle and examining how the principles of Lean production improve quality and productivity and enable organizational transformation. The material is based on the American Society for Quality Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The course is designed as preparation for taking a Green Belt exam.

4)    Introduction to Python Programming – GTx

Introduction to Computing using Python is Georgia Tech's first class in undergraduate computer science. The online version (CS 1301 O1) replicates the content of the on-campus course while taking advantage of the online medium and being highly interactive. The course is broken up into three components: the content structure, the course topics, and the delivery style.

David Joyner is an adjunct lecturer at the College of Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology. He received his BS in CS, his MS in Human-Computer Interaction, and his PhD in Human Centered Computing all from Georgia Tech. He is known for his award-winning course instruction in the College of Computing's online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMS CS) degree program.

5)    Data Analysis: Essential Skills – Microsoft

Data Analysis: Essential Skills teaches core analytics principles, including how to manipulate and query large data sets. Students will work with T-SQL and use pivot tables for data visualization.

This program consists of three highly focused courses that you can take at your own pace.

Scope for Jobs

•          5% of companies are predicted to adopt big data analytics by 2022. (World Economic Forum)
•          In the United States alone, there is a shortage of 151,717 people with data science skills. (LinkedIn Workforce Report)
•          28% projected spike in demand for data scientists and advanced analysts by 2020. (Forbes)

6)    Supply Chain Management – MITx

Gain expertise in the growing field of Supply Chain Management through an innovative online program consisting of five courses and a final capstone exam. The MicroMasters Program in Supply Chain from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MITx) is an advanced, professional, graduate-level foundation in Supply Chain Management. It represents the equivalent of one semester's worth of coursework at MIT.

MITx MicroMasters ® Credential program in Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Analytics - SC0x

Master and apply the core methodologies used in supply chain analysis and modeling.

Supply Chain Fundamentals - SC1x

Learn fundamental concepts for logistics and supply chain management from both analytical and practical perspectives.

Supply Chain Design - SC2x

Learn how to design and optimize the physical, financial, and information flows of a supply chain to enhance business performance.

Supply Chain Dynamics - SC3x

Learn how to manage and harness the dynamics and interactions between firms and entities within a supply chain. 24 Jul - 16 Oct 2019 (Next course: Feb-May 2020)

Supply Chain Technology and Systems - SC4x

Learn how technology is used in supply chain systems from fundamental concepts to innovative applications.

7)    Analytics – GTx

What you will learn        

•          Use essential analytics tools like R, Python, SQL, and more.
•          Understand fundamental models and methods of analytics, and how and when to apply them.
•          Learn to build a data analysis pipeline, from collection and storage through analysis and interactive visualization.
•          Apply your new analytics skills in a business context to maximize your impact.

The Analytics MicroMasters program is comprised of three foundational courses from Georgia Tech's full, interdisciplinary Online Master of Science in Analytics (OMS Analytics) degree. These open, online courses offer learners an interdisciplinary understanding of the essential fundamentals of analytics, including analysis methods, analytical tools, and business applications, while also serving as a helpful introduction to the OMS Analytics degree experience.

Introduction to Analytics Modeling (DL 001MM)

Analytical models are key to understanding data, generating predictions, and making business decisions.

Data Analytics in Business (DL 003MM)

Businesses, consumers, and societies leave behind massive amounts of data as a by-product of their activities. Leading-edge companies in every industry are using analytics to replace intuition and guesswork in their decision making

Computing for Data Analysis (DL 002MM)

This course is your hands-on introduction to programming techniques relevant to data analysis and machine learning. Most of the programming exercises will be based on Python and SQL.

8)    Statistics and Data Science – MITx

This MicroMasters® program in Statistics and Data Science is comprised of four online courses and a virtually proctored exam that will provide you with the foundational knowledge essential to understanding the methods and tools used in data science, and hands-on training in data analysis and machine learning.

Anyone can enroll in this MicroMasters program. It is designed for learners who want to acquire sophisticated and rigorous training in data science without leaving their day job but without compromising quality.

Job Outlook

•          A recent report by IBM and Burning Glass states that there will be 364K new job openings in data-driven professions by 2020 in the US
•          Out of those jobs, the toughest to fill are the Data Scientist/Advanced Analytics positions
•          39% of these positions require a degree higher than a bachelor’s
•          By completing this MicroMasters program you will be able to solve complex challenges with data and drive decision-making processes for organizations

Finishing this MicroMasters program will prepare you for job titles such as: Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst, Systems Analyst, Data Engineer